Azzone Visconti

Azzone Visconti (7 December 1302-16 August 1339) was the Duke of Lombardy from 1329 to 1339, succeeding Galeazzo Visconti and preceding Luchino Visconti.

Biography
Azzone was born on 7 December 1302 to the House of Visconti, a dynasty of Catholic Italians that ruled the Duchy of Lombardy. He succeeded his father Galeazzo Visconti as duke on his death in 1329, having fought as a general of the Ghibellines of Lucca against the Guelphs of Florence at the 23 September 1325 Battle of Altopascio, a decisive victory. He was made Imperial Vicar of Milan by Louis IV of Germany, and on 15 March 1330 he was named the perpetual lord of Milan. Azzone allied with Theodore I of Montferrat against King Robert of Naples and conquered Bergamo and Pizzighettone in 1332, before taking Lodi, Crema, Cremona, Vercelli, and other Lombard cities in 1335. His forces defeated the rebel Lodrisio Visconti at the Battle of Parabiago on 20-21 February 1339, but Azzone was not present due to suffering from gout. He died on 16 August 1339.